Four Ways to Combat Post-Divorce Grief

 Posted on March 27, 2018 in Family Law

Post-divorce grief can vary as much as divorce itself. No two people are exactly alike in how they express their grief and how long the process lasts. Even within the same marriage, the two parties can have very different reactions to the divorce. Seeing your former spouse reach the acceptance stage of divorce grief before you may cause you to feel a mixture of anger and jealousy. However, your ability to process your own grief is more important than how someone else has dealt with it. There are several actions you can try if you are struggling with the day-to-day effects of grief and are unsure how to cope:

1. Therapy: Seeing a therapist can help you process your post-divorce emotions. However, therapy is effective only if you are willing to be open and honest during the sessions. A therapist will base his or her advice on the information you share about yourself. Part of the benefit of therapy is verbally conveying your internal feelings, which may help you better understand them.
2. Exercising: Depression and stress from your divorce can cause you to shut yourself down physically. You should counteract that inertia by encouraging yourself to be physically active. Exercising has many known physical and mental benefits. You are improving your physical health while also relieving stress. Afterward, you feel better about yourself, which helps with your confidence.
3. Meditation: If your grief is overwhelming you at a particular moment, you may need an immediate coping mechanism. Meditation techniques are simple and can be used in almost any setting. The purpose is to calm yourself by focusing on external stimuli instead of your internal thoughts. Techniques often involve deep breathing, focusing on how your body feels and listening to your surroundings.
4. Exploration: After your divorce, you are grieving the loss of part of your identity and purpose in life. Even if your marriage was making you miserable, its absence leaves a void that is also painful. Your new freedom allows you to explore other activities that may make you happy. If you lapsed on a hobby you once enjoyed, now may be the perfect time to pick it up again. You should also consider trying new experiences that you have long been curious about but have not had the time to pursue.

Coping with Divorce

Divorce grief can start the moment you know your marriage is ending. Though the process is natural, you do not want to let it control your decisions during the divorce. A Kane County divorce attorney at the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio can guide you in making responsible decisions during your divorce. Schedule a free consultation by calling 331-588-6611.

Source:

http://www.divorcemag.com/blog/back-on-track-during-divorce-recovery